Chapter 19

**Esmeralda's POV**

Mr. Stone didn't come back that night but Keesha kept me company till morning until she had to leave for work.

I wake up from my peaceful sleep when the door opens slowly and Mr. Stone walks in looking as perfect as ever. I pretend to still be asleep as his footsteps approach the bed making my heartbeat speed up.

Dammit, what's wrong with me?

I hear him gently dragging the chair Keesha was previously sitting on closer to the bed. My breath catches when I feel him tuck my hair behind  my ear and I forget how to breath altogether when I feel something settle on the pillow my head is resting on.

I finally open my eyes and try to pretend I'm just waking by attempting to let out a fake yawn but that yawn gets caught in my throat when my eyes meet hazel ones.

The owner of those eyes currently has his head on my pillow and is staring at me!

The corner of his mouth turns up in a smirk as he continues staring and waiting for me to do something.

"I knew you were awake all along, your eyelids were fluttering crazily" He murmurs and I can't even begin to  explain how the low timbre of his voice makes me feel.

"I'm here to pick you up. The doctor says you can leave although we have to come back for your test results in a few days" He says again in that voice and I fight back a shiver.

Why can't he just talk normally?

"Uhmm...thank you Mr. Stone, I promise you that this doesn't happen often. I'll be at the office in an hour, I just need to quickly get to my apartment and take a shower" I say sitting up making him do the same.

"What? No. Think of this as your day off" He counters immediately.

"But..." I start to protest but he continues talking.

"This is what I would have done for any other employee. You need to be in good shape to be efficient at work and the two core values that the Stone Empire values the most in their employees is efficiency and consistency" He says in a tone indicating that I shouldn't try to argue with him.

"Thank you" I say again like a broken record.

"Where are my clothes?" I add looking around before finally spotting them folded neatly on a chair on the other side of the room at the same time that Mr. Stone points at them.

He excuses himself out of the room as I leave the bed to change.

Why do I feel so tingly all over?

With Jack, I felt comfortable, safe, happy; at least for the first few months but never like this.

Five minutes later, he knocks and I tell him to come in.

"I've already handled your discharge papers when I came in this morning, come on, let's go" He utters as he takes my bag from me.

I open my mouth to protest but he holds up a finger before I can let any word out.

"You're not feeling well at the moment, let me do this, okay?" He says and I nod dazzled.

Is this the same Mr. Stone that yelled at me when I broke the picture of his fiancée and him the other day?

On getting to the parking lot, I expect to see his driver waiting for him in his usual black car but I'm surprised when he unlocks the passenger door of a grey maserati and gestures for me to get in.

I comply and he walks to the other side of the car and slides in then starts the car.

Throughout the whole ride, I catch him stealing little glances at me and each time my heart skips a beat. We finally reach my place and I get out of the car.

"I'm grateful for the ride, Mr. Stone" I say expecting him to drive off but he climbs out of the car instead and walks swiftly to my side.

"Hunter... I've already told you to call me Hunter" He corrects crowding me against the car door.

He extends his hand to my shoulder and for a moment, I think he wants to pull me close but he only slides my bag handle off it and places it on his shoulder.

"I'll walk you to your door" he says with his eyes twinkling in mirth.

He then grabs my hand and I stare stupidly at our joined hands and how his thumb is currently rubbing the back of my hand.

Why do I feel like this with him?

When we reach the front door, he turns to face me and his free hand moves to my cheek.

"I'll come back to check up on you later, okay?" He says his hands moving down to my neck as he stares down at my mouth.

"Okay" I whisper; my voice suddenly gone.

He leans closer and my breath catches in anticipation but he kisses my forehead instead and I all but melt into a puddle of goo in his hands.

God.

He then releases me and hands my bag back to me. He makes sure I'm inside before turning to walk to his car.

What is he doing to me? Why do I like it so much?

I place my hand on my chest to calm my erratic heartbeat as I watch his car drive off from my window.

With me doing my laundry, cleaning my little apartment, taking a long shower and sleeping, the day passes by pretty quickly.

In the evening, I hear the doorbell ring and as much as I try not be excited, I find myself smiling as I rush to open the door but not before checking myself in the mirror and making sure I look 'casual'.

Disappointment and surprise crashes on me when I see that the person at the door isn't Mr Stone but Jack.

"What are you doing here, Jack?" I ask replacing the smile on my face with a huge scowl.

"I came to see you, can I come in?" He says solemnly and I eye him in annoyance.

"No, you can't. Say whatever you want to say right here" I say folding my hands in front of my chest but when his eyes move to my chest for some seconds, I let them back down.

"Esmeralda, I'm sorry okay? I don't know what to say to you anymore to make you forgive me. I love you and I know you still have some feelings left for me too, please let's give this another chance." He says moving closer to me and I take a step back.

"Please Esme, I miss you...a lot" He says and in one swift movement, draws me into him and places his lips on mine.

At that same moment, I see a grey maserati pull up.

Shit.